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By India Today News Desk: Four days have passed since the Congress registered a thumping victory in the Karnataka Assembly election. However, the suspense over who will be the new chief minister continues as the party struggles to bring state unit chief DK Shivakumar on board with the idea of a second term for Siddaramaiah in the top post.
Multiple rounds of discussions were held on Wednesday with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former chief Rahul Gandhi meeting Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief DK Shivakumar to work out a solution.
Meanwhile, supporters of DK Shivakumar gathered outside Rahul Gandhi’s residence in Delhi and held placards demanding the top post for their leader. Earlier, supporters of Siddaramaiah had gathered outside his residence in Bengaluru and poured milk over his posters.
ALSO READ | DK Shivakumar agrees to power-sharing formula but with riders, say sources
HERE ARE THE TOP DEVELOPMENTS ON THE KARNATAKA CM RACE
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Congress made two offers to DK Shivakumar on Wednesday. Sources said the first option was to give Shivakumar the post of Deputy Chief Minister alongside his current role — heading the state party unit. He was also offered six ministries of his choice.
However, DK Shivakumar did not accept this offer, sources told India Today.
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DK Shivakumar was also offered a power-sharing pact with Siddaramaiah being the chief minister for the first half and him being on the next term. According to sources, Shivakumar agreed to the power-sharing pact but wants the top post for the first half of the five-year tenure.
Sources in the DK Shivakumar camp said that Siddaramaiah may not relinquish his seat if Congress gets a favourable mandate in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
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Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala said party president Mallikarjun Kharge will take the final call on selecting the candidate for the Karnataka chief minister post. He said a new chief minister will be announced within 24 hours and a new state Cabinet within 48 to 72 hours.
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Karnataka’s two chief ministerial aspirants – Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar – on Wednesday met Rahul Gandhi separately amid hectic parleys in the Congress to decide on the candidate for the top post in the southern state.
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According to sources, Siddaramaiah isn’t keen on letting go of the finance ministry. Sources also said that Siddaramaiah, the former chief minister, is the frontrunner for the top post as he has the backing of Rahul Gandhi and most of the MLAs.
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According to sources, Siddaramaiah isn’t keen on letting go of the finance ministry. Sources also said that Siddaramaiah, the former chief minister, is the frontrunner for the top post as he has the backing of Rahul Gandhi and most of the MLAs.
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DK Shivakumar has been insisting on the top post, citing his work over the last five years, including rebuilding the party after their government fell in 2019 and leading the Congress to a massive mandate in the May 10 Assembly election.
Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah’s CM bid is based on a larger MLA support and surveys claiming his popularity, and also, his 5-year complete tenure as a chief minister.
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Amid the ongoing discussions about who will become the chief minister of Karnataka, sources said that the Congress leadership is in no hurry to announce the CM’s name. Both Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar are expected to stay put in Delhi till a decision is made. Since both leaders have refused to relent, options and formulas are being worked out, sources said.
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Amid the ongoing discussions about who will become the chief minister of Karnataka, sources said that the Congress leadership is in no hurry to announce the CM’s name. Both Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar are expected to stay put in Delhi till a decision is made. Since both leaders have refused to relent, options and formulas are being worked out, sources said.
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After the multiple rounds of discussions, Congress general secretary in-charge for Karnataka Randeep Surjewala said a decision on the new state cabinet will be in place in the next 48-72 hours.
All Congress leaders have been advised not to issue statements on the leadership matter, Surjewala said in a tweet. “Any out of turn remarks made from here onwards will be treated as indiscipline and action taken accordingly,” he said.
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Meanwhile, outgoing Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday said the “inability” of the Congress to decide on the new chief minister early, despite having a complete majority, reflects on the internal situation of the party.
The Congress hit back at the BJP for criticising it over the delay in deciding the chief minister of Karnataka and cited examples when the saffron party declared its chief ministers in Uttar Pradesh, Goa and Assam several days after winning the polls.
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The Congress won a decisive mandate in the May 10 Karnataka Assembly election, winning 135 of the 224 seats, ousting the BJP from power. The BJP was a distant second with 66 seats and the JD(S), which had hoped to play the kingmaker, was down with just 19 seats.
Since the election results have been declared, the Congress has been facing the challenging task of appointing the next chief minister of the state.
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